Benton & Benton Enterprises PIF  

My son, who was an avid baseball player from the early age of eight, until his last day of high school.  He was always on the top of his game.  Never missed a practice no matter how tired he was, no matter how long the practice would run.  No matter how sick he may have been.  One day in particular, his little league coach asked him to pitch.  My sons norm was center field, and batting in runs.  He had never pitched before.  He wasn't feeling well when we left the house that afternoon, but insisted on going to the game.  So pitch he did, while he threw up all over the mound.  Even at his coach's request that he get off the mound, my son waved his coach off.  Spit...and went on to strike out the last two at bat.

He had a vision.  Nothing was going to stop him.  His goals, his dreams, his determination became a stepping stone, for the young man he is today.  Responsible, honest, determined to reach his goal.

One day not long ago, I was doing some dusting upstairs.  I came across his ball caps and jerseys on the shelves along with his numerous trophies and V.I.P. baseballs.  As I lifted the jersey and ball cap of each team he had played for, one of the caps fell to the floor landing upside down.  Inside the bill of the cap were the words, "Focus, Visualize, Connect".

It was at that moment that I realized why he looked up before going into the batters box. My husband and I thought he was saying a silent prayer.  But now, I knew the real reason he would pause, look up, get into the batters box with his stance set, his cleats deeply dug into the dirt.

 Everyone in the stands would be quiet as he would "Focus" his full attention towards the pitcher's mound.  We all knew how badly he wanted to hit a home run.  We all saw the defeat he felt when his home run didn't happen.  But that he had hit a line drive to bring in another run.  Yes he was happy, yes he did well for his team.  It just seemed he was not truly satisfied with his progress.

The day finally came for my son...bases loaded...two strikes, three balls......He did it!! Grand slam!!  I still get goose bumps thinking of that day.  His team mates cried with him as they all met him at the home base and cheered him on.  He never hit another home run after that day.  He had set out to achieve his goal.  The goal was met.  He was happy. 

Now in adult life he is still on top of his game in the work field.  He is an exceptional young man performing a job that he loves. 

Shouldn't we all be so determined?  And if not, why not?